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Can horses help people heal from addiction, ADHD, trauma, and emotional challenges in a deeper, more connected way?

In this episode of Living A Life In Balance, Denise Stergoulis joins Abdullah Boulad, CEO of THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic, for a powerful conversation about equine therapy, addiction recovery, ADHD, mental health, trauma healing, relapse, personal growth, and the emotional connection between humans and horses.

Drawing from her own recovery journey, Denise shares how overcoming addiction led her to become an addiction therapist and equine therapy practitioner. She discusses growing up with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia, finding purpose later in life, and the lessons she has learned from helping people navigate recovery, relapse, trauma, and personal growth.

The episode explores how horses can act as powerful emotional mirrors, helping individuals build self-awareness, trust, confidence, and connection. Denise also explains why recovery is about much more than stopping a behavior, it is about addressing the deeper issues underneath and creating lasting change.

Whether you are interested in mental health, addiction recovery, ADHD, personal development, trauma healing, or equine-assisted therapy, this episode offers practical insights, hope, and inspiration.

About Denise:
Denise is an experienced Integrative therapist with specialist recognition in substance addiction. She combines her extensive experience with an incisive, challenging, and empowering style to maximize healing and growth. She combines traditional methods with specialist equine-assisted psychotherapy to develop a highly tailored plan for a wide variety of clients.


00:00:00 - From Addiction Recovery To Helping Others Heal
00:01:32 - The Power Of Hope In Recovery And Healing
00:03:11 - Growing Up With Undiagnosed ADHD And Dyslexia
00:04:52 - Leaving London To Find Purpose In Australia
00:07:39 - How An ADHD Diagnosis Changed Everything
00:09:50 - Why Horses Became A Lifelong Source Of Strength
00:12:17 - Building Confidence Through Horses And Purpose
00:14:19 - From Media Career To Motherhood And Identity Loss
00:18:59 - Reinventing Life After Raising Three Children
00:22:06 - From Patient To Addiction Therapist At The Priory
00:23:43 - Going Back To University Later In Life
00:26:41 - What Working In Addiction Recovery Taught Me
00:30:47 - Why Addiction Recovery Is Harder Than Most People Think
00:33:48 - The Habits Behind Long-Term Recovery Success
00:37:27 - How Equine Therapy Helps People Heal Faster
00:43:55 - How Horses Detect Human Emotions And Anxiety
00:47:34 - Why Equine Therapy Helps People Get Unstuck
00:50:27 - Inside An Equine Therapy Session
00:58:04 - Who Can Benefit Most From Horse-Assisted Therapy?
01:03:34 - Finding Purpose, Passion And Balance In Life

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/

Follow Denise:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-stergoulis-mbacp-accred-714187104/

You can order Abdullah’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BC9S5TCF?ccs_id=c64f2588-7eb1-4592-b4d1-647a0f379b51

Follow THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/

#AddictionRecovery #EquineTherapy #HorseTherapy #MentalHealth #ADHD #RecoveryJourney #PersonalDevelopment #TraumaRecovery #Neurodiversity #AddictionTreatment #SelfAwareness #HealingJourney #LivingALifeInBalance #Podcast

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Work addiction, burnout, anxiety, and the inability to switch off are challenges many high-performing professionals quietly struggle with. But what if the problem is not simply working too much, but using work as a way to avoid what is happening beneath the surface?

In this episode of Living A Life In Balance, Obi Unaka, Addiction Therapist and Relapse Prevention Specialist, joins Abdullah Boulad, Founder and CEO of THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic, for an insightful conversation about work addiction, executive burnout, emotional regulation, recovery, and the hidden costs of high achievement.

Drawing from his own personal experience, Obi shares how a successful career in finance eventually led him to recognize that work had become more than a profession; it had become an addiction. After losing important relationships, experiencing severe stress-related symptoms, and struggling to disconnect from work, he began a journey of recovery that ultimately led him into the field of psychotherapy and addiction treatment.

Together, they discuss:

• How work can become a behavioural addiction similar to gambling or substance use
• The warning signs of executive stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion
• Why many high performers struggle to switch off and find balance outside of work
• The connection between purpose, identity, achievement, and self-worth
• Cultural perspectives on mental health, addiction, and emotional well-being across different societies
• The importance of family, community, and support systems in long-term recovery

This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about success, resilience, mental health, and the often-overlooked challenges faced by ambitious individuals. It explores what happens when achievement comes at the expense of wellbeing, and why finding balance requires more than simply working less.

About Obi Unaka:
Obi is an Addiction Therapist, Psychotherapist, and Relapse Prevention Specialist with decades of experience working in the field of mental health and addiction treatment. After leaving a successful career in finance due to his own struggles with work addiction, he retrained as a therapist and has since dedicated his career to helping individuals overcome addiction, burnout, and behavioural health challenges.

00:00:00 - From Work Addiction to Addiction Therapist: Obi Wan's Journey from Finance Burnout to Recovery
00:03:29 - What Is Work Addiction? Signs, Symptoms, and When Hard Work Becomes Unhealthy
00:05:32 - The Psychology of Work Addiction: Why High Achievers Struggle to Switch Off
00:06:58 - Burnout Warning Signs: How Therapy Helped Identify a Destructive Work Pattern
00:08:59 - Finding Purpose After Burnout: Transitioning from Finance to Mental Health
00:10:38 - High-Pressure Careers, Executive Stress, and the Risk of Work Addiction
00:12:02 - Executive Burnout, Substance Use, and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms in High Performers
00:14:22 - What Causes Burnout? Perfectionism, Internal Pressure, and Emotional Exhaustion
00:16:21 - The Biopsychosocial Model: Balancing Mental Health, Relationships, Purpose, and Wellbeing
00:18:47 - Burnout Red Flags: Overworking, Digital Addiction, Control, and Inability to Delegate
00:22:04 - Technology Addiction, Constant Connectivity, and the Loss of Human Connection
00:23:43 - Mental Health Across Cultures: Comparing Nigeria, the UK, and India
00:26:01 - Mental Health Stigma in India: Family Expectations, Psychiatry, and Cultural Beliefs
00:34:55 - Family Support, Addiction Recovery, and Preventing Relapse Through Community
00:37:52 - What the Western World Can Learn About Community, Connection, and Mental Wellbeing
00:44:01 - Cultural Differences in Therapy: Why Mental Health Treatment Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
00:47:17 - How Therapists Avoid Burnout: Self-Care, Boundaries, Delegation, and Work-Life Balance

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/

Follow Obi:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/obi-unaka-4715141b/

You can order Abdullah’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BC9S5TCF?ccs_id=c64f2588-7eb1-4592-b4d1-647a0f379b51

Follow THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/

#LivingALifeInBalance #WorkAddiction #Burnout #Stress #Sleep #Support #Wellbeing #IntegrativeMedicine #MentalHealth #Podcast

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Brain fog, bloating, fatigue, poor sleep, inflammation, and constantly feeling “off” are symptoms many people silently live with every day. But what if these are not just normal parts of modern life, but signs that the body needs deeper attention?

In this episode of Living A Life In Balance, Dr. Leah Austin, GP and Nutritional Therapist, joins Abdullah Boulad, CEO of THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic, for a thoughtful conversation about gut health, the gut-brain connection, inflammation, stress, sleep, nutrition, and overall wellbeing.

Drawing from both her medical background and her own personal health struggles, Dr. Leah shares how years of dealing with bloating and allergies completely changed the way she understands medicine and patient care. After realizing that simply treating symptoms was not enough, she began exploring a more integrative approach focused on understanding the deeper causes behind physical and emotional symptoms.

Together, they discuss:

• Why bloating and digestive discomfort should not always be dismissed as “normal”
• The relationship between gut health, inflammation, mood, and brain fog
• How stress and poor sleep impact the body more than many people realize
• Simple habits that can support long-term wellbeing
• What it means to take a more integrative and holistic approach to health

This is a grounded and honest conversation about listening to the body more carefully, understanding the connection between physical and emotional wellbeing, and rethinking what health really means in modern life.

About Dr Leah: Dr. Leah Austin brings a uniquely integrative approach to restorative health and wellbeing. A UK-trained GP and Naturopathic Nutritionist, she combines the precision of medical science with the depth of functional and lifestyle medicine. Her 360-degree assessments explore every aspect of an individual’s health, from genetics and hormone balance to gut integrity, nutrition, and toxic burden, to uncover root causes and create truly personalized pathways to recovery.

00:00:00 - Why Dr. Leah Austin Moved Beyond Conventional Medicine
00:02:18 - Treating Root Causes Instead of Just Symptoms
00:03:27 - Dr. Leah Austin’s Personal Gut Health Struggles
00:04:42 - What an Integrative Health Consultation Looks Like
00:06:00 - How Stress and Modern Work Affect Health
00:07:15 - Why Chronic Bloating Should Never Be Ignored
00:08:29 - What Integrative Medicine Really Means
00:10:08 - Why Gut Health Affects the Entire Body
00:10:18 - Healing Chronic Sinus Issues Through Gut Health
00:13:55 - The Biggest Lifestyle Mistakes Harming Gut Health
00:16:07 - The Best Exercise for Metabolic Health and Longevity
00:18:13 - The Gut-Brain Connection and Brain Fog Explained
00:20:43 - What Brain Fog Really Feels Like
00:21:51 - The Long-Term Dangers of Chronic Inflammation
00:24:45 - Why Gut Health Should Come First
00:26:33 - How Gluten Sensitivity Affected Mood and Mental Health
00:30:28 - The Most Important Habits for Better Brain Health
00:33:06 - Environmental Toxins That May Be Affecting Your Health
00:38:44 - How to Improve Your Health Without Feeling Overwhelmed
00:58:12 - Why Proper Breathing Matters for Stress and Health

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/

Follow Dr Leah:
https://www.instagram.com/dr.leahaustin/

You can order Abdullah’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BC9S5TCF?ccs_id=c64f2588-7eb1-4592-b4d1-647a0f379b51

Follow THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/

#LivingALifeInBalance #GutHealth #BrainFog #Bloating #Fatigue #GutBrainConnection #Inflammation #Stress #Sleep #Nutrition #Wellbeing #HolisticHealth #IntegrativeMedicine #MentalHealth #Podcast #DrLeahAustin